Toronto, ON – In the interest of supporting and advancing the field of Drama in Education, Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is excited to announce the second year of the Ada Slaight Drama in Education Award. This $10,000 prize has been made possible through a generous donation by The Slaight Family Foundation which led to the establishment of The Ada Slaight Education
Centre at YPT, celebrating Mrs. Slaight’s inspiring commitment to young artists and audiences.

The Ada Slaight Drama in Education Award was initially awarded in YPT’s 2016/17 Season to Rachel Rhoades, a Ph.D. Candidate studying at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, who will use the award to engage youth participants in Toronto and Boston in Youth Artists for Justice, which applies theatre creation techniques to respond to the
question, “What do you wish you had more influence over in society?”

YPT is inviting fresh applications for the 2017/18 edition of the Ada Slaight Drama in Education Award. The successful candidate will be pursuing graduate research work with a specific focus on Theatre for Young Audiences in the following fields: Drama in Education, Applied Theatre, Theatre and Performance Studies, or Acting, Directing or Playwriting (MFA). Exceptional Masters
candidate applications will be considered but preference will be given to PhD level applicants.
Applicants must demonstrate, through a letter of intent, their commitment to Theatre for Young Audiences/Drama in Education and performance for or by young people. The letter should directly respond to the following questions:

  • What is your research about?
  • How will it address gaps of knowledge in the field?
  • How is your research innovative?
  • How will you mobilize your findings/knowledge into action, advocacy and positive growth or change in the sector?
  • How will this funding support and advance your research?

Applications will be considered by The Ada Slaight Education Centre at YPT, Award Advisory Committee. To apply, please submit:

  • Letter of Intent (750 words max.)
  • CV
  • Three letters in support of your research. (These letters should come from scholars or professionals in the field.)

Please do not include any audio visual materials (CDs, DVDs, links to online videos). Applications will be accepted until March 24, 2017 at 5:00pm. Submissions should be sent via regular mail to (Applications submitted via email will not be accepted.)

Lois Adamson, Interim Artistic Associate, Education
Young People’s Theatre
165 Front Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 3Z4
The successful candidate will be notified in June 2017.
Please forward questions to ladamson@youngpeoplestheatre.ca.